Out of Eggnog Aphrodite - A Between the Chronicles Novella (The Goddess Chronicles Book 5)

by S. E. Babin

  After what felt like hours, Hermes came into the kitchen and sat beside us, his face grim.

  “How is he?” I asked, unable to keep the hope out of my voice.

  “Asclepius has done everything he can. He has asked for your presence.”

  My stomach dropped as my gaze met Hermes’. As soon as he nodded, I knew the extent of it. He needed our healing powers.

  “Okay,” I said in as light a tone as I could manage without tipping Hera off. “I’ll go see what he needs.”

  Hermes stood with me. “I’ll send Clotho in to sit with Hera.”

  “Good idea.” Clotho couldn’t directly intervene in issues like this. While I wasn’t sure she was the best choice to sit with Hera during this time, the rest of us needed to go and assist Zeus. Atlas was the only other choice, but I knew Hera wouldn’t want him around. She was too stuck up to sit next to someone like him.

  I sighed and let Hermes lead me out of the room. Clotho slipped into the kitchen and sat down at the table. Hera’s shoulders stiffened, but even she didn’t dare say something snide to one of the Fates. I left them there and followed Hermes upstairs into the bedroom Zeus and Hera shared.

  Zeus was lying on the bed, his arms tucked at his side. His eyes were closed and a gray, sick pallor had taken over the normal healthy olive tone of his skin. Asclepius met our gaze as we walked in. His expression grim, he motioned us over to his side of the bed. Artie and Atlas stood on the other side.

  A terrible, horrible idea occurred to me. I swallowed hard, a sick feeling in my stomach at the thought of what I was about to do. Zeus would be proud of me, but I wasn’t proud of myself.

  Instead of heading over to the other side of the bed, I walked up next to Atlas.

  “You have healing abilities?” I whispered to him.

  Confusion flickered over his face. “Yes,” he whispered, his hands poised over Zeus to begin.

  “Strong ones?”

  Atlas shook his head in bewilderment. “Yes.” His tone was short and annoyance evident in his clipped words.

  I clapped him once on the shoulder. “Good,” I said and took my place on the other side of Zeus’ bed.

  Asclepius stood at the foot. “Before we get started I want you to know that it is touch and go and it is possible even your combined efforts will not work. But I think it will as long as everyone participates fully.”

  I saw my opportunity. “This won’t work if we are all not involved?”

  Asclepius gave me a confused look before he answered. “Everyone’s combined powers are necessary.”

  I stood next to Hermes. He stiffened and turned his incredulous gaze to me. “You wouldn’t,” he hissed.

  “If one of us chooses not to participate?”

  Horror dawned on everyone’s faces.

  “Then he will most likely die.” Asclepius cleared his throat. “Enough with this nonsense. Let us begin -”

  “Free Atlas and I will participate fully. If he is not freed or at least his sentence given to me, I will not participate in this healing.” My hands and body shook. Tears filled the back of my eyes as I realized the exact consequences of what could happen.

  Go big or go home, I always said.

  “My father will die!” Hermes hissed between his teeth. I could feel the magic growing inside of him. Atlas had better be worth it. I wasn’t sure why I felt so strongly he was, and I knew how crazy this was, yet I still pushed forward.

  Artemis sucked in a shocked breath. “Abby?”

  I sent her a silent look to please trust me. Concern flickered in her violet gaze, but she nodded once and went silent.

  Atlas stood frozen. He stared at me like I had two heads. He and I both knew the stakes here. As if he were poked with a stick, he startled and spoke. “Do not do this for me, Abby. This will not end well.”

  “I will kill you if you let my father die, Aphrodite. Mark my words.” Hermes quivered with anger. His gaze bore into my soul, hatred filled and stunned.

  “Free Atlas and I will help heal your father.” The healing abilities I’d gained when I absorbed Gaia’s power might be gone, but I had new magic. Ancient magic. Powers I hadn’t discussed much with too many people. I was getting used to it and...it seemed to be getting used to me. They knew I was speaking the truth when I said I could heal him. I knew in my bones I could.

  “Dangerous game you’re playing here,” Asclepius murmured, his gaze passing back and forth between me and Hermes like a tennis match.

  “The current king knows I can heal him. If he lets his father die, the blame will rest on his shoulders.” I gathered my magic around my shoulders like a cloak of armor. I’d fight if I needed to and Hermes knew it.

  Artie blew out a slow and steady breath and watched me like a hawk. I’d hear about this later. I knew I would.

  “Hermes, you told me to outsmart you. These circumstances are unfortunate and I didn’t have to do much, but here I am. You have something I want, and I have something you need.”

  “Abby -” Atlas spoke. “Do not burn this bridge.”

  How could I explain to Atlas that I both wanted to help him, yet also felt a compulsion like I needed to help him?

  I didn’t look at him. I stood my ground and faced Hermes. “Neither one of us want your father to die. I promise you this. Free Atlas and you will have all the power I command.”

  The clock ticked down, each second like a heartbeat. A fading one. Zeus’ ragged breath combined with it to make our standoff even more horrifying. The former king of the gods was dying in front of us.

  “Why are you hesitating?” I screamed. The sound was like a shotgun in a quiet clearing. Hermes snapped out of our staring contest and shook his head, grief etched in lines I’d never seen before on his face.

  Seconds later it dawned on me. There was a part of Hermes that wanted Zeus to die.

  I stood there stunned and when he turned back to me and saw the look on my face, he knew I’d figured it out. Hermes dropped his head into his hands and rubbed his palms into his eye sockets.

  “I hate you right now,” he said. As much as it hurt to hear him say it, I believed him because, at this point, he believed it too.

  Artie cleared her throat and motioned everyone to follow her out.

  “He does not have much time!” Asclepius protested.

  Artie slid a finger across her throat and pointed at the doc. To his credit, he got her message loud and clear and slunk out the door behind them.

  We stood in silence, Hermes still slouched down. I hesitated to touch him. I didn’t know if he wanted me to or if he wanted me to stay away.

  I rolled my eyes at my indecisiveness. I’d once loved this man. Maybe I still did.

  I reached over and touched his shoulder. “It’s normal,” I said quietly.

  He choked out a sob. “Normal? How is any of this normal?”

  “When we have a tough relationship with someone we can’t help but wonder the easy way out. This…” I motioned around us, “is the easy way out. You can let him die, Hermes. And if you do I swear to you on my immortality and my power I will never utter a word about what went on in this room. But know this. If you do this...if you allow him to slip away I don’t think you’ll be able to live with yourself. If you allow me to heal him, and you find you need to fight him later, you will know it to be fair and square. And I think you’re the kind of person who has honor and integrity.” I pulled his arm away and tucked it around me as I leaned into his chest. His arm curved around my waist. “And I know you love him even though your feelings may be conflicted. I swear to you I will be there for you whatever you decide.”

  He pulled me closer and buried his face in my hair. I curled my arms around his waist and pulled him into me.

  “You are the only true friend I have, Aphrodite,” he sighed into my hair. “The only one who will tell me hard truths and still stand by me.” His breath ruffled my hair. “Although you may be a little insane, I will always cherish you.”

  I snorted
against his chest. “If you let him die, you will win. I know you’re a sore loser.”

  Hermes chuckled, though it was full of sorrow. “I am a sore loser, but you are right. If I have to battle him for control later, I’d rather do it on my terms instead of trying to twist Fate.”

  We untangled from each other but stood close.

  After a moment of us staring down at Zeus, he spoke.

  “You win. Heal my father and I shall turn over Atlas’ indentured servitude to you.”

  I sighed. “You won’t free him?”

  He clucked his tongue. “You gave me a choice. Your weakness is offering a man too many options. I would have done it if you hadn’t told me I could sign over his sentence.”

  “Damn it,” I murmured under my breath.

  He reached over and clasped my hand. “Heal him before I change my mind, Abs.”

  Several minutes later, a bright silver pulsing magic emanated from Zeus’ chest, the result of Hermes and I pouring our combined healing powers into the wound. His breath was no longer ragged and his chest fell in a steady up and down rhythm.

  It was done.

  Bone achingly tired, I squeezed our joined hands and slipped away to give him a moment. When I stepped outside, I saw everyone waiting for us with strained expressions. No one was speaking to each other. I nodded once to Artie who let out a long, ragged breath, and I headed back downstairs.

  Half the day was gone and I hadn’t even started on Christmas dinner. Today was going just smashingly well, now wasn’t it? I reached into my shirt pocket and pulled a hair elastic out to sweep my hair up into a messy bun. I needed it off my neck and out of the way once I started to cook. The sound of soft footsteps behind me alerted me to Artie. Her familiar power signature flowed over me like a hug.

  “Hey,” she said.

  I finished snapping the elastic over my hair. “Hey.”

  Artie walked over to the stove and reached into the drawer of the cabinet beside it. She pulled out two aprons and tossed me one.

  I looped it over my neck and tied it behind my waist. Then I looked down and burst out laughing.

  Emblazoned across my breasts were the words, They see me rollin’, They hatin’ with a picture of a huge rolling pin in the middle.

  Artie’s lips twitched as she pulled hers over her head, revealing a muscled male chest in a pair of Speedos.

  “We are total idiots,” I said.

  “They hatin,” Artie remarked and snagged the list of recipes off of my recipe holder. She scanned it, frowned, and looked up. “You’re making all of this?”

  “Yup.” I rummaged through my pantry and pulled out all of the things I knew I would need before I started. I’d have to go back here and there to grab the things I’d forgotten, but I could no longer waste any more time if we planned to eat tomorrow.

  My spine stiffened as a soft brush of wind caressed my hair. Someone had just entered my house without knocking. I wielded my spoon like a deadly weapon as I waited for the intruder to show himself, but relaxed as I realized who it was.

  “Hades,” I said as he materialized in front of me.

  Artie didn’t greet him. She just tossed him an apron and gruffly ordered him to put it on.

  I grinned and handed over the spoon. “Welcome to the party.”

  Hades blanched as I finished telling him all the things to happen in the short time I’d left him.

  “You don’t do anything halfway, do you?”

  I shrugged. “Atlas is free. Sort of. Zeus should be fine. Hermes is still king. I made the right choice.”

  “She’s like a one-woman wrecking crew,” Artie chimed in as she stirred sizzling butter in the skillet.

  I punched Hades in the arm at his answering grin.

  “Ouch!” he chuckled and rubbed his arm. “She has a point.”

  “Stir!” I demanded.

  Hades smirked and kept stirring the cookie dough I put him in charge of.

  I, on the other hand, was busy dumping cans of sweet potatoes, melted butter, sugar and the works into a bowl to make my famous (okay, not really, but delicious at least) sweet potato casserole. Upstairs, all was quiet. No one had come down yet, and I hadn’t seen any signs of Hera since I’d come downstairs to start work.

  I hadn’t asked her how she felt afterward. I was so shocked by what she had done I never thought to ask. Of course, I could somewhat understand her feelings on the subject, but the fact remained we were more dangerous than the average person. Cheating on us could sometimes become deadly, as evidenced by the comatose Zeus upstairs.

  My lips twitched as I focused on mixing the eggs and other ingredients into the casserole. The fact remained he didn’t seem very upset by what his estranged wife did. If I thought about it too much, he almost seemed like he respected it. That maybe he didn’t mind because he deserved it. I shook my head. That would be giving him too much credit. Rarely had I seen Zeus take responsibility for anything.

  “Deep thoughts?” Hades inquired. He’d put down the spoon and leaned against the counter staring at me, looking all wickedly rumpled.

  I let the spoon stand up in the sweet potato mess. “Zeus didn’t seem upset.”

  Hades didn’t seem too concerned either. He shrugged one shoulder and crossed his arms over his chest.

  “You wouldn’t be upset with me if I shot you in the chest with magic?” I asked him, appalled.

  Hades chuckled. “First, you would never have to because if we were together I would never stray from your side.”

  I swallowed hard and watched as his silvery gaze trailed down to my neck. He raised two fingers. “And second, if I did something so stupid it made you angry enough to cause me grievous harm, perhaps it was deserved and my life should be in your hands.”

  Seriously. How did he get to be so freaking swoony?

  I could hear Artie’s sigh over the sound of crackling butter.

  I snorted in amusement and shook my head. I picked up the glass bowl and poured the ingredients into a greased glass casserole dish. “Perhaps the humans have it right. I like the way their relationships go. No one ever has to worry about magical comas or ancient grudges.”

  Hades opened the refrigerator door and put the bowl of dough inside. Wiping his hands on his apron, he studied me. “I like to think immortals have the opportunity to find one true love to help them keep what’s left of their sanity. We are immortals, Abby. You know how difficult it is to find someone to love you. To love any of us. Most of us are prone to violence. Do not judge Hera harshly. Zeus has done her a great disservice.”

  “Well, color me surprised,” Hermes said from the doorway, giving Hades a strange look. “I never thought I’d see the Lord of the Underworld making Christmas dinner with my ex before today.”

  I never told Hermes about what had transpired between Hades and me on Halloween and I never, ever planned to tell him. It wasn’t any of his business. He had his own little tete a tete going on with Dike at the time. But seeing them standing in the same room together overwhelmed me a little bit and a flush of deep red color infused my cheeks and I fought my best to keep my expression cheerful and blank.

  “Whoo, it’s hot in here,” I said and began to fan myself with a hand.

  Artie gave me a strange look but didn’t contradict me. I had a state of the art kitchen with air conditioning out the wazoo. The only reason it would be hot in here is if I were menopausal. Since we all knew that wasn’t true, hopefully my lame excuse would fly right over the heads of the men and no one would call me on it.

  “It feels quite nice in here,” Hermes offered and smirked.

  I was never that lucky.

  I grunted and began to dump the streusel topping on the casserole I was preparing. The air felt mighty thin now that both men were in the kitchen.

  Instead of responding to Hermes’ dig, Hades reached in and grabbed an apron for him. A frilly, pink lacy apron that said Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Hermes caught it with one hand, frowned in distaste, and set it on
the counter.

  “We need all the help we can get,” Artie said. “If you’re in, start chopping the veggies. If you’re out, leave us and take your witty barbs with you.”

  Silence fell over the kitchen for a moment before Hermes shrugged and grabbed a knife from the island drawer. I moved away from him, taking my casserole pan with me. I covered it with foil, popped it in the fridge and sighed. Only eight thousand more things to do.

  I looked over the list one more time. Artie had the cornbread stuffing under control as long as Hermes didn’t screw up the chopping. Hades took care of the sugar cookies. Sweet potato casserole was done. Ham was still in the fridge defrosting. I could make the green bean casserole tomorrow.

  No one liked cranberry sauce here. Well...I didn’t like it and I didn’t care that much what anyone else wanted. Not after everyone crashed my dinner for three.

  The next few hours went by with no incidents. Small miracles. Hermes and Artie finished up their dishes and retired after realizing there was a new episode of Supernatural on in a few minutes. I still hadn’t seen Hera and Clotho and Atlas appeared to still be upstairs.

  The kitchen should have seemed a lot larger with everyone out and most of the dishes cleaned up, but Hades was larger than life. And now that we were alone, the kitchen seemed a whole lot smaller than before.

  I still had to make dessert. Artie and Clotho were both suckers for a good chocolate cake, and I had an ace up my sleeve. A cake recipe I’d had for a long, long time but rarely made, aptly named Voodoo Cake. I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one else but Hades was there and bent down to dig through one of my bottom cabinets.

  “Ha!” I exclaimed when I found the old, worn metal box. I pulled it out and set it on top of my counter.

  The box came from a woman named Marie. In the 1700’s I’d met her quite by accident in a French market. Heavily disguised, she spoke with a deep accent and asked me whether I thought the berries were fresh enough. When she invited me back to her home, I readily accepted only to find out the woman - Marie - was the Marie Antoinette. After I’d gotten over the initial surprise and remembered my rusty court manners, she’d taken me down to the kitchen, shooed everyone out and proceeded to tell me her secret passion was to bake and cook. Not for anyone but herself.